Mass rush expected for season tickets tomorrow?

[Chez]

I agree with that, completely agree and think we should be selling more ST's especially after last season.

 

All i was saying that every season i would assume there would be a natural reduction of people renewing for whatever reason, obviously you can't have more people 'renewing' than already had a ST, but you will always get people that don't keep it up for whatever reason.

 

You then need to add to this with people that buy new tickets.

 

I honestly believe we will have more STH's than last season, all in all the payment plan has not affected as many as has been made out and the outcry has pretty much died down now, well in the people i know anyways and most of them arent exactly flush. It was a mistake by NC, i do get that and a shame on those few that it has affected which will generally be families.

Fair enough. We'll never know how many have not renewed, or the reasons why people haven't taken up their ticket. With the economy as it is that will have a much more significant affect than the loss of payment plans. But increased prices and inflexible payment structures hardly help that situation do they?

 

I think what has not been taken into account here is that a lost season ticket holder doesn't just cost the club £328, it could cost them thousands of pounds over a lifetime. I know many fans that went every week but lost interest for one reason or another and they have not been back. Once you are out of the habit its amazing how expensive and futile football looks

[Dave Benson Phillips]

Spunking Breath Saint...

 

Will definately be interesting to see how many season ticket holders this year. Dagenham and Redbridge on a November Tuesday night will be the key match.

 

My personal opinion, season tickets will be about 20% down, around the 10k mark. The only proof of this we have so far is someone being told by the ticket office that lots of people have not renewed in the Itchen Centre.

 

With the right marketing, we should have had 20k season tickets. You and Cortese might not thing that 2/3rds of capacity being STH's are sustainable or the best financial decision, but 91 out of 92 clubs do.

 

What you are saying is that you, Dulldays, Nick G and Cortese are right, and 91 other professional football clubs are wrong?

 

OK then.

[NickG]

me,right about what?

[Smirking_Saint]

Spunking Breath Saint...

 

Will definately be interesting to see how many season ticket holders this year. Dagenham and Redbridge on a November Tuesday night will be the key match.

 

My personal opinion, season tickets will be about 20% down, around the 10k mark. The only proof of this we have so far is someone being told by the ticket office that lots of people have not renewed in the Itchen Centre.

 

With the right marketing, we should have had 20k season tickets. You and Cortese might not thing that 2/3rds of capacity being STH's are sustainable or the best financial decision, but 91 out of 92 clubs do.

 

What you are saying is that you, Dulldays, Nick G and Cortese are right, and 91 other professional football clubs are wrong?

 

OK then.

 

And there we have it, the whole reason why you get so much vitriol towards you on this site and you had to change your name, mainly because you can only argue your point for so long and then resort to name calling and generally being a sarccy C*nt.

 

Well done, you are always right, you are always great. I really cannot be ars*d to argue with someone that is no more than a trolling WUM with an inferiority complex fighting to change the minds of the masses like some evangelist shouting an opinion down peoples throats again and again and again.

 

You ask for reasoned debate and then completely ignore other peoples views and just change to insulting them, what next the dreaded 'lets meet for a drink then?' as if it is some sort of point proving exercise ? My opinions will only change for myself and currently they are what i say on here, i am not trying to wind anyone up, just don't buy into the conspiracy that is NC wants an empty stadium.

 

And no, 92 clubs do not believe that an entire stadium of STH's is the right idea Stu, the majority of them have that and never will.

[Smirking_Saint]

Fair enough. We'll never know how many have not renewed, or the reasons why people haven't taken up their ticket. With the economy as it is that will have a much more significant affect than the loss of payment plans. But increased prices and inflexible payment structures hardly help that situation do they?

 

I think what has not been taken into account here is that a lost season ticket holder doesn't just cost the club £328, it could cost them thousands of pounds over a lifetime. I know many fans that went every week but lost interest for one reason or another and they have not been back. Once you are out of the habit its amazing how expensive and futile football looks

 

I do agree with that, and no the increased prices etc will never help, and it is a shame to lose people that have ST's as all in all these are the people that will essentially spend more money (not just on the original product) over the course of their supporting lifetime.

 

I did have a ST but changed my job and so couldn't afford one for the last few years, and in all honesty i am sort of in that camp, thinking do i really need to spend £1k a year on football ? But i will go back to it.

 

It was a mistake removing the payment plan etc, but i IMO believe it was not as damaging as some would like us to think. Unless NC turns out to be like Lowe, and in that respect i mean in not making the football club competetive as THAT is the main reason for an increase in STH's and fans, competetive, attractive and winning football, then the fan base will not shrink but will infact grow.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

And there we have it, the whole reason why you get so much vitriol towards you on this site and you had to change your name, mainly because you can only argue your point for so long and then resort to name calling and generally being a sarccy C*nt.

 

Well done, you are always right, you are always great. I really cannot be ars*d to argue with someone that is no more than a trolling WUM with an inferiority complex fighting to change the minds of the masses like some evangelist shouting an opinion down peoples throats again and again and again.

 

You ask for reasoned debate and then completely ignore other peoples views and just change to insulting them, what next the dreaded 'lets meet for a drink then?' as if it is some sort of point proving exercise ? My opinions will only change for myself and currently they are what i say on here, i am not trying to wind anyone up, just don't buy into the conspiracy that is NC wants an empty stadium.

 

And no, 92 clubs do not believe that an entire stadium of STH's is the right idea Stu, the majority of them have that and never will.

 

You said you don't think it is the best financial decision to have STH's, yet 91 out of 92 pro-actively sell season tickets. We are the only ones negatively selling season tickets. That is a fact, not an opinion.

 

Why is this? Serious debate... are they all wrong and we are right? We have 32,000 seats to play with... I am sure we will agree on one thing, that's more than enough to afford 2/3rds STH's and 1/3 for the casual fan? We are in League 1 remember!!!! Having said that, if we were at The Dell then I would indeed agree with you that STH's should not be encouraged.

[Smirking_Saint]

You said you don't think it is the best financial decision to have STH's, yet 91 out of 92 pro-actively sell season tickets. We are the only ones negatively selling season tickets. That is a fact, not an opinion.

 

Why is this? Serious debate... are they all wrong and we are right? We have 32,000 seats to play with... I am sure we will agree on one thing, that's more than enough to afford 2/3rds STH's and 1/3 for the casual fan? We are in League 1 remember!!!! Having said that, if we were at The Dell then I would indeed agree with you that STH's should not be encouraged.

 

I agree that we need to have around the 2/3rds mark, and agree we need a healthy number of season tickets, or at least 2/3rds our maximum attendance which is around 12k.

 

The truth will be in the pudding whether or not we recieve a healthy number of STH's without the outlay of an advertising campaign. As if their is an increase in attendance and STH's it would have been a success however you look at it.

[Liquidshokk]

I don't care how many are sold/renewed as long as I get my seat around the dug out tomorrow morning

[Dave Benson Phillips]

I agree that we need to have around the 2/3rds mark, and agree we need a healthy number of season tickets, or at least 2/3rds our maximum attendance which is around 12k.

 

The truth will be in the pudding whether or not we recieve a healthy number of STH's without the outlay of an advertising campaign. As if their is an increase in attendance and STH's it would have been a success however you look at it.

 

Good, we are getting somewhere now.

 

I will say one thing, Sheffield Wednesday are just as ruthless as us when it comes to ticket sells, but forcing people into season tickets.

 

They advertised cheapest adult match tickets at about £25 each when they announced them along with very reasonable season ticket prices, concentrating their advertising on the "Massive Savings to be had from a STH, SAVE £100's"

 

As soon as all the season tickets were sold they dropped the match prices back down to £17 LOL

 

I would be f*cking livid if I had bought a ticket on the back of that marketing, using match prices to justify a Season ticket!

[CB Saint]

Do I have to go through the whole Group A, Group B and Group C thing again?

 

Just because you are a super fan, doesn't mean there are many people who need convincing through advertising and marketing to buy one. That is a FACT in any aspect of membership sales.

 

Seriously, why can't you just appreciate that not everyone is as obsessed with Saints than you? Our core support is about 10k, probably less... everyone else will react to marketing, advertising, offers, value for money etc etc when making a decision on whether to renew or not or turn up to a game on a match by match basis.

 

And the costs.

 

Club to send email out to all on the database - If one person out of 50,000 reacts to that and buys a season ticket = costs covered.

 

Mailshot / Renewal Pack - If 5 people out of 13,000 react to that, and buy a season ticket as a result = costs covered.

 

Text to STH's - If 2 people renew as a direct result of the text = Costs covered.

 

Advertising on the OS - Free

 

Advertising/Renewal Forms in the Echo - If 3 people renew as a result then costs covered.

 

Indirect advertising in the Echo through stories etc in exchange for plugs - Free

 

Radio Advertising - If 5 people react to a Radio Advert and renew then costs covered.

 

West Quay - Having a stall on the main walkthrough, if it prompts 3 people to renew = Costs covered.

 

Leafleting in Southampton City Centre, get the Academy players out speaking to people, if 1 person decides on a season ticket = Costs covered.

 

I could go on, there is plenty more ways that the club could promote season tickets... IF THEY WANTED TO. The cost is irrelevent as it is a fraction of the return they would get from pushing them.

 

Really?

 

I'll give you this, you're certainly passionate about the SFC vs fans thing; borderline obsessive but certainly passionate.

[JRM]

This thread really does make me laugh. All you lot arguing against stu, just because its him, when it is clear as day what he is saying is right. The club have made NO EFFORT whatsoever to attract new season tickets holders, and have actively made it harder for existing ones to renew. Why they have done this baffles me. What is undisputable, if the club wanted to increase sales there are very cheap very easy ways of marketing available to them. Lets take fulham as an example. I am on their database having been to a couple of european games last season. They have emailed me 3 times with info of season tickets, when on sale, how to buy, cost, attractive marketing which very easily hits a potential sales base. They also have a mailing with brochure and advertising at train stations in south west london. Saints on the other hand have gone out of their way to delay details and a short renewal period, no marketing, i can't see how anyone can disagree the club just don't want more season ticket holders. This is bad for all fans. The atmosphere at st marys is bad enough the last thing we need is more empty seats. As said before, support is more than just financial, we would benefit more as a club with packed stands making a bit of noise.

[beatlesaint]

This thread really does make me laugh. All you lot arguing against stu, just because its him, when it is clear as day what he is saying is right. The club have made NO EFFORT whatsoever to attract new season tickets holders, and have actively made it harder for existing ones to renew. Why they have done this baffles me. What is undisputable, if the club wanted to increase sales there are very cheap very easy ways of marketing available to them. Lets take fulham as an example. I am on their database having been to a couple of european games last season. They have emailed me 3 times with info of season tickets, when on sale, how to buy, cost, attractive marketing which very easily hits a potential sales base. They also have a mailing with brochure and advertising at train stations in south west london. Saints on the other hand have gone out of their way to delay details and a short renewal period, no marketing, i can't see how anyone can disagree the club just don't want more season ticket holders. This is bad for all fans. The atmosphere at st marys is bad enough the last thing we need is more empty seats. As said before, support is more than just financial, we would benefit more as a club with packed stands making a bit of noise.

 

Cant argue with that.

People on here can dress it up all they like but the bottom line is the club haven't done a bloody thing to encourage Season Ticket sales.

Perhaps there is a master plan and it will all become clear in time but at present it just looks like an absolute marketing balls up.

[St Lej]

Bring back Ulrich van Gobbel at right back and the stands will be packed!!!!!

[St Lej]

Looks like me dream is unlikely, I'll have to get my quota of beefy smooth thighs elsewhere.

 

Van Gobbel received a 4 month prison sentence for buying cars on credit and selling them on without paying the car company. Although the Dutch police have not been able to locate Van Gobbel, it is believed he is in Suriname.

 

Anyway, enough of this, fancy meeting at the Pink Wellington anyone?

[aintforever]

Cant argue with that.

People on here can dress it up all they like but the bottom line is the club haven't done a bloody thing to encourage Season Ticket sales.

Perhaps there is a master plan and it will all become clear in time but at present it just looks like an absolute marketing balls up.

 

It looks like they are taking a bit of a gamble.

 

If Saints are top of the league after a few games then SMS will be packed and they will make alot more money by having less ST holders. Remember, only the old farts among us can remember a Saints season where we challenged for the top spot - expect sell out crowds towards the end of the season if we're top.

 

Also if the season goes to plan and we are promoted, there will be loads of people buying "New" STs for the next season in the Championship at the higher price than if they renewed.

 

The problem is if we have a bad start we could see very low crowds at some games. Trying to convice people to part with £25 odd for Saints v Dagenham & Redbridge on a cold November Tuesday evening if we're in the bottom half will not be easy.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

This thread really does make me laugh. All you lot arguing against stu, just because its him, when it is clear as day what he is saying is right. The club have made NO EFFORT whatsoever to attract new season tickets holders, and have actively made it harder for existing ones to renew. Why they have done this baffles me. What is undisputable, if the club wanted to increase sales there are very cheap very easy ways of marketing available to them. Lets take fulham as an example. I am on their database having been to a couple of european games last season. They have emailed me 3 times with info of season tickets, when on sale, how to buy, cost, attractive marketing which very easily hits a potential sales base. They also have a mailing with brochure and advertising at train stations in south west london. Saints on the other hand have gone out of their way to delay details and a short renewal period, no marketing, i can't see how anyone can disagree the club just don't want more season ticket holders. This is bad for all fans. The atmosphere at st marys is bad enough the last thing we need is more empty seats. As said before, support is more than just financial, we would benefit more as a club with packed stands making a bit of noise.

 

Thankyou for putting your head above the parapit. It is pretty clear that the club are actively discouraging renewals and indeed new season ticket sales. I have posted informative posts on how membership sales work, and how easy and affordable it is to advertise and market the season tickets. There is a wealth of information on google if people wanted to prove me wrong, yet nobody has done anything apart from say " you're wrong " simply because I am Stu and like a good argument.

 

91 out of 92 teams ( and SFC pre-Cortese, who still have the same ticket office manager now ) know that Season tickets is the best revenue spinner. If it wasn't then clubs wouldn't sell them.

 

Why are SFC not doing it?

 

Answer: Cortese thinks he has a complete blindly loyal fanbase that will show up each and every game, paying full price plus booking fee, turning up to at least 14 games a season on average. Which we all know won't happen.

 

But people will disagree with this post, just because it's me. And then like Dulldays, when they are proved wrong, as he was about my comments about the pre-season tour, they will just ignore it and pretend it never happened.

 

There will be " I told you so " moments over the next few months, there already has been, and there will be more, lack of open fans forum, hike in concourse food prices, memberships etc etc

 

Maybe I should just sit back and enjoy them as they start rolling in...

[hypochondriac]

It is quite obvious that SFC are not doing anything to publicise season ticket and it appears that they are actively discouraging people from buying them. Does anyone disagree with this even if you disagree with other points, surely Stu has a point with this?

[Dave Benson Phillips]

It looks like they are taking a bit of a gamble.

 

If Saints are top of the league after a few games then SMS will be packed and they will make alot more money by having less ST holders. Remember, only the old farts among us can remember a Saints season where we challenged for the top spot - expect sell out crowds towards the end of the season if we're top.

 

Also if the season goes to plan and we are promoted, there will be loads of people buying "New" STs for the next season in the Championship at the higher price than if they renewed.

 

The problem is if we have a bad start we could see very low crowds at some games. Trying to convice people to part with £25 odd for Saints v Dagenham & Redbridge on a cold November Tuesday evening if we're in the bottom half will not be easy.

 

I will quite happily stick my neck on the line and predict we will not pack out St Marys next season, regardless of how well we start. People will start coming back in the 'business' end of the season - the last 3 or 4 home games. It's League 1 lads, doesn't matter how you dress it up, it's League 1. I think people should realise that.

 

As for the Championship... the offers will be back, the installment plan and everything else, the club won't be able to guarantee success in the Champs, so they will have to bank as much cash at the start of the season.

 

For the record I think most of the posters on here and SFC themselves are being very naive in thinking we can walk this league.

[solentstars]

It is quite obvious that SFC are not doing anything to publicise season ticket and it appears that they are actively discouraging people from buying them. Does anyone disagree with this even if you disagree with other points, surely Stu has a point with this?

i agree hey are actively discouraging people from buying them seems very strange to me,and stu has been making valid points and i know decent fans who had this bombshell out of the blue, hence i will not buy the new shirt or saints products from the shop till they start getting their customer service right and treating all our fanbase with respect.

[hypochondriac]

Thanks solentstars. Perhaps there are more who feel as you do and not just the "lunatic fringe" or "ten posters" on here that some on the other side of debate like to pretend is the case.

[doggface]

Not going to disect each & every point but stu definately has some valid points - despite the fact his user name is worse than mine (just)

[hypochondriac]

So that's at least 5 posters in the last few posts accepting that there are valid points here. Good to know.

[latter day saint]

count me in as well. not said anything on a number of posts lately as i have seen the flak people have got for voicing there opinions. think the club has shot itself in the foot over a number of things lately that could have been avoided by a little bit of thought.

[Smirking_Saint]

It is quite obvious that SFC are not doing anything to publicise season ticket and it appears that they are actively discouraging people from buying them. Does anyone disagree with this even if you disagree with other points, surely Stu has a point with this?

 

Not publicising them yes, but discouraging ?? I don't think you can really say that, otherwise they would not have offered a decent renewal price.

 

I guess we will see how many STH's we have soon.

 

I agree, Stu makes some valid points, and NC's PR skills leave a lot to be desired, however i just don't see things being as bad as it is being portrayed and certainly do not buy into some of the conspiracy theories being thrown around.

 

From what i can see it makes decent financial sense.

[Pat from Poole]

I will quite happily stick my neck on the line and predict we will not pack out St Marys next season, regardless of how well we start. People will start coming back in the 'business' end of the season - the last 3 or 4 home games. It's League 1 lads, doesn't matter how you dress it up, it's League 1. I think people should realise that.

 

As for the Championship... the offers will be back, the installment plan and everything else, the club won't be able to guarantee success in the Champs, so they will have to bank as much cash at the start of the season.

 

For the record I think most of the posters on here and SFC themselves are being very naive in thinking we can walk this league.

 

Oh for sure, I'd make Huddersfield the clear favourites to win the League, and i think we'll have a battle with Sheff Wed, Peterboro, Swindon and Charlton for the 2nd automatic spot.

 

Er, as usual Stu, I agree with you in most of what you say. I'm sure there'll be lots of opportunity for you to say "I told you so" in a couple of months to a lot of people.

[teamsaint]

I will quite happily stick my neck on the line and predict we will not pack out St Marys next season, regardless of how well we start. People will start coming back in the 'business' end of the season - the last 3 or 4 home games. It's League 1 lads, doesn't matter how you dress it up, it's League 1. I think people should realise that.

 

As for the Championship... the offers will be back, the installment plan and everything else, the club won't be able to guarantee success in the Champs, so they will have to bank as much cash at the start of the season.

 

For the record I think most of the posters on here and SFC themselves are being very naive in thinking we can walk this league.

 

I agree. In the playoff season, in a better league, we averaged 23500. Can't remember the ST numbers, but i guess around 11000.

 

This season we will get big gates ,around 30k for bompey (in the league) one or two others at xmas, and a couple in April if we are close to promotion.

We will NOT get big (25k +) crowds most weeks. Theses are tough times, and lots of people will think twice before shelling out £25 when the cames come along thick and fast, (and there are some decent easy away trips to take in).

I really feel the club are making mistakes.Taking your core customers for granted, which is how it looks, is a VERY dangerous business.